ethnomusicology of the african culture


Introduction

The purpose of this page is to use ethnomusicology to study the effects of African cultural music on various types of music. Ethnomusicology is the study of music from different cultures. I will compare songs from modern American rap, a song from before 1974, and a song from a non-english speaking country.

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Song 1

Name: Whatever You Like.mp3

Genre: Rap

Artist: T.I.

Synopsis: This song is a "slow rap". Rap's relationship with cultural african music has ben diluted over time. It is like the griots from Africa(west) because it tells a story with in a musical way. Rap first started to appear as early as the beginning of the 1970's when proto-rap was being experimented with. Proto-rap was influenced by slave spirituals, the blues, and slightly by reggae. Spirituals, the blues, and reggae are all influenced by cultural African music.

Song 2

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Name: I Got To Move.m4a (1969)

Genre: R&B

Artist: James Brown

Synopsis: R&B means rhythm and blues and so R&B is basically blues with a different rhythm and a faster tempo. Blues is influenced by African folk songs, work songs, and country music. Work songs are slave songs that are basically African music, but twisted and influenced by other forms of music. In the beginning of the song there are drums accompanied by call and response type vocals. This is almost identical to African cultural music. Then the song goes on to a blues vocals with modern instrumentals.


Song 3

Name: Pas Sans Toi.mp3 (2001)

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Genre: R&B, pop, and rap

Artist: Matthieu Totta

Synopsis: This is a French song by Matthieu Totta, but more commonly known as Matt Pokora. The music is like the previous songs (based on blues and is like the cultural African music but with a steady instrumental beat). There is elements of call and response present in this song also.